Manila: The Bureau of Customs (BOC), through the Port of Clark, has successfully intercepted 538 grams of high-grade marijuana, commonly known as 'kush', with an estimated market value of PHP807,000. The illegal substance was cleverly concealed inside a parcel that was declared as 'keychains' and originated from Hong Kong. It was scheduled for delivery in Bi±an, Laguna.
According to Philippines News Agency, Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno revealed that the parcel, which arrived on November 15, was flagged by the BOC's X-ray Inspection Project (XIP) due to suspicious images detected during routine scanning. The suspicious package prompted further investigation.
On November 19, a team from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) conducted a K-9 sniff test on the parcel, which indicated the presence of narcotics. A subsequent full physical examination uncovered two boxes of 'Labubu' keychains. Each box contained two transparent sealed pouches filled with dried leaves and fruiting tops, which were suspected to be high-grade marijuana.
Samples from the seized pouches were submitted to PDEA for chemical analysis. The results confirmed the presence of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component of marijuana, classified as a dangerous drug under Republic Act (RA) 9165, known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, as amended.
A warrant of seizure and detention was issued against the shipment for violating several sections of Republic Act No. 10863, also known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), in relation to RA 9165. These sections include Section 118(g), Section 119(d), and Section 1113 paragraphs (f), (i), and (l).
District Collector Jairus Reyes praised the vigilance and profiling skills of the port's frontline officers, which led to the successful seizure of the illegal drugs. "The Port of Clark maintains a heightened watch against any form of drug smuggling. Our proactive operations safeguard the public from the harms of illegal drugs and contribute to building safer communities," he stated.
